Tooth-powder receptacle.



Patented Dec. 30, I902;

T; 0. HOLLAND.

TOOTH POWDER BEGEPTAGLE.

(Appligation filed Mar. 21, 1900.1 010 liodal.)

ilNiTEn TATES I ATENT OFFICE.

TOOTH-POWDER RECEPTACLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 717,402, dated December 30, 1902.

Application filed March 21, 1900- Serial No. 9,573. (No model.) I

To a. whom it mag concern:

Be it known that LTHoMAs OSBORNE HOL- LAND, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia,in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tooth- Powder Receptacles; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The object of this invention is to present a neat-appearing, cheaplyconstructed, and highly-efficient tooth-powder receptacle the construction of which shall be such that in use only the requisite amount of powder will be deposited upon the bristles of a toothbrush, whereby a saving in powder will be effected and any soiling of the clothes of the user, as by surplus powder falling thereon from the brush, will be obviated; furthermore, to present a tooth-powder receptacle in which the powder-supply orifice shall be kept thoroughly clean and free from any accumulation of powder, such as would tend to prevent the device from working in a free and perfect manner. 1

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts of a toothpowder receptacle,as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,and in which like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts, I have illustrated an embodiment of my invention, it being understood that the same may be carried into effect in other ways without departing from the spirit of the invention, and in these drawings-- Figure 1 is a view in perspective displaying a tooth-powder receptacle constructed in accordance with my invention, the lid of the receptacle being partly withdrawn. Fig. 2 is 'a view in transverse section through the form of receptacle, shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is also a view in perspective displaying a slightlyinodified form of, receptacle, the latter being more particularly adapted in use for traveling men. Fig. 4 is a view in transverse section showing more particularly the relation between the different parts of the apparatus. Fig. 5 is a view in perspective showing a detachable form of mouthpiece which may be used in connection with either of the forms of device shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

Referring to the drawings, A designates the body of the receptacle, which may be constructed of any suitable materialsuch as celluloid, metal, gutta-percha, or indurated fiber; but from the standpoint of economy in production and durability in use metal will generally be preferred, and to the body are secured two end pieces a 0;, which in the use of any material other than metal will be cemented to the body, and in the caseof metal may be soldered or secured in position by interlocked flanges, as iswell understood.

The upper portion of thebody is constricted to form a neck portion a presenting on the interior of the receptacle an elongated powder-escape slot 0. through which the powder is fed to a brush, and from this neck the receptacle is flared outward to form a V-shaped mouth, against the walls of which the brush will be pressed, so that in use the bristles thereof will be closely assembled, thereby to prevent any sifting of the powder through the same and thence onto the clothing of the user or onto the floor.

The edges a of the mouthpiece, which, as stated, are outward-flaring, and thus in elevation dovetailed, are engaged by a lid 0,, having its edges inturned, as at a these edges, in connection with the top portion of the lid, forming a dovetailed groove to engage with the edges a whereby to permit the lid to be readily moved inward or outward, thus to expose the slot in the neck, a stop a suitably secured to the lid, serving to prevent detachment of the lid from the receptacle. The lid may also be made to move sidewise instead of lengthwise of the receptacle, as shown, and still be within the scope-of my invention, or the lid may be hinged tothebody,

as shown in Fig. 3, and be made to open lengthwise or sidewise.

The form of device shown in Fig. 1 is that which will generally be preferred for household uses, where the receptacle will always remain in a vertical position; but where employed by traveling men or by persons on a journey the form of device shown in Figs. 3 and 4 will generally be preferred. In these figures the neck portion of the receptacle is formed into rounded beads d as shown in Fig. 4, this not only for the purpose of a finish, but also to presentbinding edges against which the lid will bear, thus further preventing any escape and consequent loss of powder.

The ends of the V-shaped mouth are inclined, as shown at a the object of this arrangement being to assemble the bristles at the ends of the brush for the same purpose as are those at the sides of the same.

As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the mouth is formed by the sides and ends of the receptacle, but, by preference, the mouthpiece is to be made removable, as shown in Fig. 5, and is to be stamped or otherwise formed out of a single piece of any suitable material such as celluloid, metal, &;c. to fit in the mouth of the receptacle and to lie close against the side and end walls thereof, the upper edges of the removable mouthpiece being inturned or rounded, as at a to fit around the beads ct, and thus to present a neat and finished appearance.

Hinged at one end of the receptacle is the lid a, the same being preferably flat on top and having its sides and ends bent to present rounded heads a to coact with the beads a on the neck or with those on the removable mouthpiece to form a powder-tight closure. This lid, which may or may not be hinged to the receptacle, carries a wedge-shaped stopper or closure at for engaging the walls of the powder-escape slot, thus to prevent escape of powder and also to operate as a cleaning device for removing after each operation any powder which from the presence of moisture may adhere to the walls of the slot, so that the presentation of an obstruction at this point will be entirely obviated.

To render the closure effective for the purpose designed, it is requisite that it should possess sufficient resiliency to cause it when in engagement with the walls of the slot tightly to hug the same. To effect this, the closure may be constructed of apiece of. metal bent in this instance to a V shape and having the upper end of one of its legs bent outward at right angles to present a flange a which may be secured either to the under side of the lid proper, as by solder, or may be riveted to a supplemental plate (r held in place on the under side of the lid by the headset or in any other preferred manner, the object of the supplemental plate being to prevent the heads of the rivets holding the closure in place from appearing on the upper side of the lid. The end of the other leg is detached from the lid, so that, as will be obvious, there will be resilient action on the part of the wedge.

As a means for increasing the effectiveness of the closure (r and also to prevent any escape of powder at the ends of the slot, a resilient wedge-shaped gasket a preferably of leather or rubber, may be inclosed by the walls of the wedge and projects beyond the ends of the same, as clearly shown in Fig. 3, these projecting parts to look into engagement with the end walls of the slot.

As a means for locking the lid closed with relation to the receptacle any suitable device may be employed, and in this instance it is effected by providing one of the ends of the neck portion of the receptacle with a depression, as a", to be engaged by a tongue a projecting downward from the overhanging end a of the lid; but it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to this particular manner of effecting the locking of the lid, as it will be obvious that the locking device may be dispensed with and the frictional contact between the wedge-shaped closure e and the walls of the slot be made sufficient to hold the lid closed under all conditions.

To fill the receptacle, the powder may be either fed through the slot and by gently shaking the receptacle cause it to feed down into the same, or the bottom of the receptacle may be provided with a screw-cap a as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 4, for this purpose. The advantages accruing from em- I00 ploying a longitudinal slot for supplying powder to the bristles of a brush in lieu of the ordinaryperforated plate used are that the supply is made direct and positive and does not require any shaking of the receptacle, with attendant loss of powder, and by the employment of the peculiar closure the walls of this slot may be kept clean under all conditions, even if when the closure enters the slot the walls of the same may be wet.

The body of the receptacle herein shown is, by preference, composed of a single piece of metal bent or stamped to the requisite shape, with the ends secured thereto, as by solder; but it is to be understood that I do I15 not wish to be limited to this particular manner of making the receptacle or to the material employed, as the receptacle may be made of glass or otherwise formed to the desired configuration.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States, is-

1. A-tooth-powder receptacle provided with a powder-escape slot and a mouth arranged above saidslot, the interior side and end walls of said mouth converging downward toward the slot, whereby, upon the insertion of a toothbrush into the mouth, the bristles thereof will be compressed eudwise and sidewise 1 0 with respect to the brush-handle, and a cover silient gasket engaging the ends of the slot, to for the receptacle formed with means operatsubstantially as described. ing to prevent accumulation of powder in the In testimony whereof I affix my signature flaring mouth and to close the slot, substanin the presence of two subscribing witnesses. 5 tiall as described. T

2. A tooth-powder receptacle provided with I THOMAS OSBORMJ HOLLAND a powder-escape slot, and a lid carrying a Witnesses: wedge-shaped closure having resilient walls HUGH MCDONALD, for engaging the sides of the slot, and a re- \V. V. SICARD. 

